Judicial reviews: a decision that’s best left to judges – The Guardian

‘The justice secretary wants to restrict access to judicial reviews, but judging the lawfulness of executive action should not be a matter for the executive.’

Full story

The Guardian, 10th December 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Skelmersdale man jailed for murdering Polish neighbour – BBC News

Posted December 10th, 2014 in closed circuit television, murder, news, racism, sentencing by sally

‘A man who hacked to death his Polish neighbour in a “savage and ferocious” machete attack in Lancashire has been jailed for life.’

Full story

BBC News, 10th December 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Mass polygamy in UK Muslim community – claim – Daily Telegraph

Posted December 10th, 2014 in bills, Islam, islamic law, marriage, news, polygamy, women by sally

‘Peer warns widespread polygamy being ‘condoned’ as report claims many Muslim women trapped in legal limbo.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 10th December 2014

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

EVENT: The Law Society – Legal Aid Annual Conference 2015

Posted December 10th, 2014 in Forthcoming events by sally

‘The Law Society’s fourth legal aid conference will provide up to date information and relevant business advice to help support practitioners operating in difficult times. This essential event, presented by subject matter experts, will include two plenary sessions and practical breakout sessions covering:

• Digital working in crime and civil
• Financial health check for your firm
• Managing your legal aid contract
• Maximising your criminal fee
• Benefits of in house advocacy
• Operating under LASPO’

CPD Hours 5

Date: 19th March 2015, 9.00am-5.00pm

Location: The Law Society, 113 Chancery Lane, London WC2A 1PL

Charge: See website for details

More information can be found here.

House of Lords rejects government plans to restrict judicial review access – The Guardian

Posted December 10th, 2014 in bills, judicial review, news, parliament by sally

‘A rebellion in the House of Lords has inflicted a second defeat on the government’s plans to restrict access to judicial review challenges.’

Full story

The Guardian, 9th December 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

“We’re all in this together”, says incoming Bar Council Chairman in Inaugural Address – The Bar Council

Posted December 10th, 2014 in barristers, budgets, fees, judicial review, legal aid, news by sally

‘Incoming Chairman of the Bar Council, Alistair MacDonald QC, has pledged he will “continue the excellent work” started by predecessors Maura McGowan QC and outgoing Chairman, Nicholas Lavender QC, in preventing further cuts to legal aid, in order to defend a “proud and independent profession”.’

Full story

The Bar Council, 9th December 2014

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Reforming electoral law across the UK – Law Commission

Posted December 10th, 2014 in consultations, elections, Law Commission, news, referendums by sally

‘In a consultation opening today [9 December] the Law Commissions of England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland set out provisional proposals for reforming the law that governs the conduct of elections and referendums across the UK.’

Full story

Law Commission, 9th December 2014

Source: www.lawcommission.justice.gov.uk

New Bar leader: young barristers should take place of paid McKenzie Friends – Legal Futures

Posted December 10th, 2014 in barristers, fees, McKenzie friends, news, solicitors by sally

‘Junior barristers should get themselves accredited for direct access work and act in cases where people are currently relying on paid McKenzie Friends, the incoming Bar Council chairman has said as he promised to promote direct access to the public.’

Full story

Legal Futures, 10th December 2014

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Couple launch challenge to heterosexual ban on Civil Partnerships – UK Human Rights Blog

‘The future of civil partnerships is again in the news. In October, Rebecca Steinfeld and Charles Keidan tried to register a Civil Partnership at Chelsea Town Hall but were rebuffed on the grounds that the Civil Partnership Act 2004 reserves that status strictly for same sex couples. Their lawyer, Louise Whitfield of Deighton Pierce Glynn Solicitors has announced their intention to seek a judicial review and the couple have also started a petition.’

Full story

UK Human Rights Blog, 9th December 2014

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Merseyside dangerous dog raids: Police acted ‘unlawfully’ – BBC News

Posted December 10th, 2014 in compensation, dogs, judicial review, news, police by sally

‘A police crackdown that saw 22 dangerous dogs rounded up and destroyed across Merseyside was “unlawful”, a court has ruled.’

Full story

BBC News, 9th December 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Peers continue JR resistance as Grayling admits misinforming MPs about changes – Litigation Futures

Posted December 10th, 2014 in bills, costs, judicial review, judiciary, news, parliament by sally

‘The House of Lords yesterday reinstated two of the three amendments it previously passed on the government’s judicial review reforms as it emerged that Lord Chancellor Chris Grayling had given MPs incorrect information over a key aspect of them last week.’

Full story

Litigation Futures, 10th December 2014

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

EVENT: UCL – Common Law and Statute in the Law of Employment

Posted December 10th, 2014 in Forthcoming events by sally

‘How should judges develop the common law where Parliament has ‘occupied the field’ through statutory regulation? This is an important enquiry, particularly given the modern prominence of legislation as a form of law-making in the sphere of labour law. In Johnson v Unisys, Lord Hoffmann controversially invoked constitutional principle to halt the development of the common law of wrongful dismissal in the face of a statutory right not to be unfairly dismissed.’

Date: 12th March 2015, 6.00-7.00pm

Location: UCL Laws, Bentham House, WC1H 0EG

Charge: Free, registration required

More information can be found here.

Statement from the Director of Public Prosecutions on Eleanor de Freitas – CPS News Brief

‘Eleanor de Freitas’ tragic death was just days before she was due to stand trial for perverting the course of justice. The pending inquest will deal with the circumstances surrounding her death and I do not want to interfere with that process. However the case has understandably raised questions about private prosecutions in these types of cases and why the CPS took over and continued this particular case.’

Full story

CPS News Brief, 9th December 2014

Source: http://blog.cps.gov.uk

‘Very dangerous’ paedophile released over ‘unlawful’ sentence – Daily Telegraph

Posted December 10th, 2014 in appeals, child abuse, news, sentencing, sexual offences by sally

‘Jeffrey Charles Goodwyn, who has previous for raping a nine-year-old, is released on appeal from sentence for sexually assaulting girl, 7.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 9th December 2014

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

EVENT: The Law Society – The role of the Charter of Fundamental Rights within the EU legal framework and its relevance for the UK legal order

Posted December 10th, 2014 in Forthcoming events by sally

‘Respect for fundamental rights is one of the basic principles on which the European Union is based. This joint-lecture will first examine the Charter’s key features, its role within the human rights protection regime of the EU and the remedies available at EU level for violations of human rights.’

CPD hours 2

Date: 26th March 2015, 6.00-8.00pm

Location: The Law Society, 113 Chancery Lane, London WC2A 1PL

Charge: Free

More information can be found here.

Men who groom vulnerable young girls will be dealt with ‘severely’, judge says – The Guardian

‘The most senior judge in England and Wales today said men who prey on vulnerable young girls for sex will be dealt with “severely”, as he dismissed appeals from four paedophile groomers.’

Full story

The Guardian, 9th December 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk